Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes Glenn McGrath's withdrawal from the upcoming Test series against South Africa will not necessarily require an experienced replacement, which paves the way for the recall of young replacement quick, Shaun Tait.
With the 15-man touring party expected to be announced by chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns on Monday, McGrath's absence has triggered debate as to the most suitable alternative seam bowling option.
Given his role as a ruthlessly accurate runs saver as well as having taken more Test wickets than any other fast bowler, McGrath's reliability was viewed as the perfect foil to new-ball partner Brett Lee's hostile pace and aggression.
As a result, many commentators felt a bowler with an established Test pedigree such as Jason Gillespie (251 Test wickets) or Michael Kasprowicz (106) loomed as the most logical successor to McGrath.
Kasprowicz shares the mantle of leading wicket-taker in the Pura Cup with fellow Queensland veteran, Andy Bichel.
But Ponting yesterday suggested a Test attack which boasted Lee as well as leg-spinners Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill contained adequate experience to justify the inclusion of a younger fast bowler.
While Tait appears the best-credentialled candidate under that criteria, the selectors are also likely to consider the claims of Victoria's Shane Harwood, Brett Dorey (Western Australia) and Mitchell Johnson (Queensland).
"Not necessarily, I don't think that's really going to weigh into it too much," Ponting said yesterday when asked if the loss of his most seasoned seamer would require the selection of a similarly experienced replacement.
"If we decide to go for two spinners on this tour that means they're both experienced bowlers, and Brett (Lee) you can put into that category as well, having played as much cricket as he has.
"We have got a fair bit of experience there without really noticing it.
"When you lose someone like McGrath, the first thing you think of is the loss of experience.
"But I don't think that's that important, to tell you the truth.
"This wicket in Cape Town will spin a bit during the (first) Test match, so in all likelihood we will play two spinners here.
"So there's enough experience in the squad that we might be able to look at a couple of younger guys."
Ponting said he planned to chat with NSW opener Phil Jaques, who arrived in South Africa yesterday as a stand-by batsman for the current one-day series, to gauge his view on the most difficult of the domestic quicks to face.
Jaques has played most of the season at Pura Cup level, although he made his Test debut on Boxing Day as a replacement for the injured Justin Langer and is likely to be rewarded for his summer by inclusion in the Test squad.
Michael Clarke will also come under consideration for a recall.
Ponting said he expected the names of Tait, Kasprowicz, Gillespie and Harwood to figure prominently in the final selection meetings that will take place this weekend.
The South African Test series begins in Cape Town on March 16, with matches in Durban and Johannesburg to follow. The squad will then travel directly to Bangladesh for Test matches in Dhaka and Chittagong.
After that, Australia has no Test matches scheduled until the first Ashes Test against England in Brisbane next November.
McGrath is expected to miss the Bangladesh tour in addition to the South African leg as he remains with his wife, Jane, who is battling cancer for a third time.
Ponting backed McGrath to play a role in next summer's Ashes series - depending on Jane's condition - even though he will be approaching his 37th birthday and would not have played at Test level for around 10 months.
"I don't think it will be a big ask for him," Ponting said.
"The big problem that he will have is coming back to international cricket after a big break.
"But if it's something that Glenn wants to do - if he wants to play cricket again and wants to be part of the Ashes series - I know he'll work exceptionally hard whenever he gets the chance and do as much bowling as he can.
"We will keep our fingers crossed and hope he is around.
"We all saw how much we missed him in a couple of Tests in England.
"He's vital to our team. Just looking down a team that's got Lee, McGrath and Warne in it at the moment is pretty daunting.
"You want to be able to throw the ball to guys and get them to do exactly the job that you ask (and) at different times in England that didn't happen. "
- ANDREW RAMSEY